Why do I owe money back for child tax credit ?

[lexi-colavito]

I did not make any money other then the child tax credit so something is wrong here

[JillS56]

The only reason you would owe money back for the advanced child tax credit would be if you were paid more than you were entitled to.

One scenario that would cause you to pay back advanced child tax credit would be that you share claiming your children with someone where you claim one year and they claim the next year.   If this is the case,  this is why you owe back the advanced child tax credit.   If you claimed the children on your 2020 tax return, then you received the advanced child tax credit.   If you do not claim the children on your 2021 taxes, then you were not entitled to the advanced child tax credit since this credit is actual for the 2021 tax return.   

The only other scenario I can think of would be if you received an advanced child tax credit for a child that you should not have because of age.  

[lexi-colavito]

We’ll none of those scenarios apply to me. I have not received any other money but the child tax credit. I am a single mother of a 1 year old.  I don’t understand? My friend got a refund on hers. It’s okay I’m gonna call and figure this out.

[xmasbaby0]

@lexi-colavito Where on your tax return is it saying you have to pay it  back?   If you look at line 28 of your Form 1040 is there an amount there?   If there is an amount on line 28 that is the "second half" of your child tax credit that you will receive.

PREVIEW 1040

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901539-how-do-i-preview-my-turbotax-online-return-before-filing

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the screen. Click on Tools. Click on View Tax Summary. Click on Preview my 1040 on the left side of the screen.

[Jeomarroquin]

After i filed i realized i only used my dependents for eic i think i might have put yes when it ask if the other parent was gonna claim that dependent and i got the advance in 2021 will i have to amend to claim the ctc and get the other half? Thanks

[Jeomarroquin]

Will irs add ctc for me if i forgot to? lol

[JillS56]

Yes.   If you already filed your tax return and you do not think you claimed the CTC, then you will have to amend to get the CTC.   Before you amend though, look at your tax return and make sure that there is not an amount on Line 19 or on Line 28.   These are the lines where the additional CTC will show up.  

Do you recall entering the information from Letter 6419 that you would have received with the amount of ACTC you received and the number of dependents?  

[Jeomarroquin]

Yea i did enter the amount and the number of dependents i think i put yes were it ask if the other parent was claiming the dependent thats why it didnt add it because i also remember  seeing eic only or something  like that 

[Jeomarroquin]

Nothing on line 19 or 28

[DianeW777]

Only the parent that actually claims the child will be entitled to the child tax credit (CTC). If you said that their other parent was claiming the dependent, then only that parent will be entitled to the CTC.  If you received the advance, then you may have to pay it back.  

The earned income tax credit (EIC) is only allowed to be claimed by the custodial parent regardless of the exemption is waived to the noncustodial parent.  If the other parent is not claiming the dependent, then you may need to amend your tax return. This will not be available until February 24th. Read all instructions before you begin should you choose to amend.

• When will federal forms be available?
• How to amend (change or correct) a return already filed?

TurboTax calculates the Repayment Protection.  This determines if a person is required to repay the advance CTC.

What is Repayment Protection?

Repayment protection is an income-based program that reduces the amount of excess advance Child Tax Credit payments you have to repay.

Full repayment protection equals $2,000, multiplied by the following:

• The number of qualifying children that the IRS took into account when estimating your advance Child Tax Credit payments, minus
• The number of qualifying children you’re claiming on your 2021 tax return.

To be eligible for full repayment protection, your adjusted gross income (AGI) for the 2021 tax year must be at or below the following:

• $60,000 if you are married and filing a joint return or if filing as a qualifying widow or widower;
• $50,000 if you are filing as head of household; and
• $40,000 if you are a single filer or you are married and filing a separate return. 

 You won’t qualify for any repayment protection if your modified AGI is at or above the amounts listed below based on the filing status on your 2021 tax return.

• $120,000 if you are married and filing a joint return or if filing as a qualifying widow or widower;
• $100,000 if you are filing as head of household; and
• $80,000 if you are a single filer or are married and filing a separate return.

For information on the definition of modified AGI, see Topic C: Calculation of the 2021 Child Tax Credit. 

[Critter-3]

If you got some of the advance CTC payments that went out in july thru dec  then you MUST wait for the IRS to completely process your return  before you can amend it ... be patient since this could take a while if you did not enter the amount of the payments you got in advance on the original return.  

[Jeomarroquin]

The other parent never claimed the dependent so i will amend and claim the ctc also it said i was covered by payback protection but i going to amend anyways to get the other half of the credit

[Jeomarroquin]

Yea im just gonna wait for it to process and i did enter amount that i got for the advance…it told me i had repayment protection but im gonna wait then amend thank you

[Yetijacobs]

I got a letter from the irs saying I owe them money for 2021 child tax credit. I filed my taxes for 3 years through h&r block and they did not file taxes for 2021 because I don't normally file taxes because I am fully disabled. I received all but one of the 250.00 checks. Now I don't understand how I owe this money. Is it because h$r block should have filed a 2021 tax return eventhough I have no earned income credit but, I qualified for the 250.00 check. Do they need to file a amended  return with the 8812 form.

[Vanessa A]

You would need to contact the IRS to find out why they are now saying you do not qualify for the 2021 Child Tax Credit.  The number to contact them is on the letter they sent you.

 It may not have to do with filing a return, it may be something to do with them determining that a dependent is not yours or was claimed by someone else.